Pneumatic cleaning device.



J. M. S'PANGLER.

PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1911.

1,064,783. Patented June 17, 1913.

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UNITED s'riyr s parser orrion.

JAMES M. SPANGLER, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOVER SUCTION SWEEPER COlMPANY, OF NEW BERLIN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PNEUMATIC CLEANING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES M. SPANGLER,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, h ave invented a new and useful Pneu matic Cleaning Device, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for pneumatic cleaning of floors, rugs, draperies, walls, and other surfaces and objects, and especially to that class of such devices wherein a brushing effect is combined with an inrush of air into the cleaning device for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the surface to which it is applied.

The objects of my invention are to generally improve devices of the character men tioned and to provide a simple, strong, durable, .cheaply made and yet thoroughly practical pneumatic cleaning device and to so construct the device that -a revolving brush is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned at the very place where the iurush of air-occurs so as to combine the brfishing and pneumatic actions to accomplish satisfactory results.

Anotherobject is to so construct the device that-the working parts may be inclosed and so 'arrangedfthat threads, dust and the like will not enter the same to-impede their proper operation. I

These objects, together with other objects apparent to those skilled in the art, may be attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, although the invention may be embodied in other forms, the construction illustrated being chosen by way of example.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic cleaning device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device, a portion being broken away to disclose internal construction. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view on the line Throughout the severai views similar reference numerals indlgc'ate s milar parts.

The numeral *l; i1.tlicates afhollow casing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 24, 1911.

I l 1 1 l l Patented June 1'7, 191 3.

Serial No. 640,262.

heads to close the cylindrical casing but also support the bearings for the rotating brush and driving wheels, as will be presently explained. The end plates 4 are provided with the integral, outwardly offset portions 5 in which. at the axis of the cylindrical portion of the casing are arranged apertures as at (3. for the reception of the stationary brush shaft 7 which extends beyond the ofi' set portions 5 and is provided at each end with a nut 8 or other fastening device for holding it in place. Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 7 is the brushspindle 9 provided with the bristles 10 which extend radially, and are adapted to rot-rude slightly through and sweep across heslot at 3. At'

each end of the spindle iathread guard 11 is arranged, the end plate 4 being provided with an aperture adapted to receive the thread guard 11, which thread guard is of slightly greater thickness than the plate 4, thus having its inner edge project inwardly from the inner surface of the plate 4 as at 12. Continuing beyond thethread guard 11 the spindle 9 is provided with the fixedly mounted small pinion 13 located just within the ofi'setportion 5, said ofiset portion having a lateral opening .to permit a portion of the pinion 13 to extend'beyond the outer edge of said ofi'set portion to engage and mesh with the driving pinion 14 which is fixedly connected to the driving wheel 15.

I The driving wheel 15 is preferably of greater diameter than the cylindrical portion of the casing 1. The bearing screws 16 are connectedto the plates 4 and the driving wheels with their fixedly connected driving pinions' are rotatably mounted upon said bearing screws and are offset to the rear of the cylindrical portion of the casing '1 so that thepinion 14 at its forward side will mesh with the rear side of the pinion 13, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. It shouldbe noted that the two driving wheels rotate about a common axis which axis lies to the rear of the slot 3 and spindle 9. The driving wheels 15 are provided with the externally knurled tread flanges 17, which extend downwardly beyond the hereinbefore mentioned plane of the front and rear edges of the slot 3. The flanges 17 also extend inwardly closely adjacent the plates 4 and the plates 4 are provided with the rearwardly projecting portions 18 extending fully to the rear of the driving wheels to accomplish the complete inclosure of the pinions l3 and '14, thus preventing threads and dust or small particles from becoming-entangled in the working parts.

It is'intended that the device be connected, by means of the collar 2 to a suitable tube or 'pipe of well known construction to be used the pinions 14 and 13 to the brush spindle 9 and rapidly rotating the brush. It will be understood that the brush is not of large or heavy design and does not require much power to rotate it. As the bristles 10 pass the slot at 3 they come in contact with the surface being cleaned. especially in the case of floor coverings and the like which are drawn up against the edges of the slot by the inrush of air. By this action the surface being cleaned is lightly brushed while at the same time a strong inrus'h of air is produced where the brushing action takes place, thus producing a combined brushing and pneumatic cleaning action adapted to produce thoroughly satisfactory results.

It should be noted that the axis of the driving wheels being located to the rear of the axis of the brush and cylindrical portion of the casing, the operator in using the device may readily bring the brush and front edge of the inlet slot of the easing into closer relation to the surface being cleaned by merely raising the tube or pipe of well known construction which is connected to the collar and which is used as a handle. By thus raisingsaid tube the axis of the brush and of the casing are lowered, and the reverse operation is as easily accomplished when desired. In this way the operator may readily accommodate the device to varying conditions, it being well understood that a smooth, polished, hardwood floor requires different treatment than a heavy velvet or similar rug, whereas in the practical use of the device these two conditions present themselves side by side and the device must be rapidly and easily accommodated to meet the conditions while in use.

A pneumatic cleaning deviceof the character described comprising a hollow casing, a pair of driving wheels and a brush, said casing provided on its under side with an elongated inlet slot having front and rearedges lying in a common plane, said brush rotatably mounted within said casing upon an axis parallel-with said slot. said brush having bristles adapted to sweep across said slot, said driving wheels rotatably connected to said casing and having a common axis parallel with the axis of said brush and to the rear of said slot, the peripheries ofsaid driving wheels extending below the said plane and means operatively connecting said driving wheels with said brush, whereby said brush may be rotated by the rotation of said driving wheels in moving the device overthe surface to be cleaned, and the front edge of said slot is moved into engagement with or away from said surface when said casing is tilted.

In testimony that I claimthe above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES M. sP'ANGLER. 

